Teaching drama in schools is a tricky thing to do. Although it is important for the students to get a feel for all types of drama and have their horizons broadened, it is also true that if students are not having at least a little bit of fun, they are unlikely to listen to anything that is being said or taught. A teacher who can find this balance is a teacher who is able to effectively teach drama in schools.
Instructions
1. Begin each class with a warm-up session. The warm-up session should somehow relate to the topic that will be covered in class on a particular day. For example, if you will be reading from "Romeo and Juliet," it may be best to first talk about teenage dating in current times and compare it to dating in Shakespeare's time.
2. Set rules and define them well. There are cases when some students have difficulty taking subjects seriously. For example, if a script deals with mature themes, students sometimes have a tendency to giggle or laugh. Discuss with your class how they should react when mature topics are mentioned. Let them know that disrespecting the roles could lead to a punishment.
3. Be serious about the class. For some students, drama class is a synonym for play time. Remind students that school policies and rules are in effect on the stage just as much as they are in the classroom. If the teacher shows respect for the theater, children will often pick up on that and show respect as well.
4. Maintain the integrity of the scene. When improvising, it is important to allow students to use their creativity. However, there needs to be a line that should not be crossed. If teaching the children a classic play, pay special attention that the improvisation does not drift too far away from the script. If it does, they will not get the full effect of why the play is important. If the students are allowed to go too far off script, they will not appreciate the play and its dialogue.
5. Stick to the lesson plan. Although drama is about creativity and expressing oneself, there are certain things that must be taught. Remember to look over the lesson plan before class begins and keep the class on task so that the items that need to be taught are covered during class that day.
